Being a race driver is hard work which is why so many fail. This week on the Driver Development Roundup you will learn why race drivers need to put in the hard work every day to succeed plus much more!
Overview
Becoming a Professional Race Driver
Nico Rosberg: How Beating Lewis Hamilton Nearly Destroyed Me
Nico Rosberg spent 31 years building his identity around a single goal to become Formula 1 World Champion. In this episode of the High Performance Podcast, Nico reveals the stark reality of achieving his ultimate dream, explaining why his 2016 triumph brought relief rather than euphoria and why he walked away from a $100m+ fortune at his absolute peak.
Judging the Potential of Young Drivers
“The hardest thing to judge in a young driver is not how fast they are today. It is how fast they are going to become.” This is how Dan Wells of Drivers Lab starts a recent LinkedIn post on judging the potential of young drivers. Read the full post here.
With 200 Wins by Women, the NHRA Solved a Problem Other Motorsports Still Face
Angie Smith’s milestone victory is another reminder that women have long competed—and won—at drag racing’s highest levels.
“In NHRA, women are winners. Moreover, they’re champions. Starting with Muldowney’s Top Fuel series titles in 1977, 1980, and 1982, women have won 14 crowns across three pro categories. They include Angelle Sampey’s three-consecutive in Pro Stock Motorcycle (2000, 2001, 2002) and Brittany Force’s two (2017, 2022) in Top Fuel.”
Susan Wade of Autoweek explains here.
The Mindset You Need to Chase a Racing Career
“You have to enter with a somewhat delusional mentality.”
Alexandro Vielma explains the mindset required to pursue a career in motorsports. Believing all things are possible is only the beginning—the real challenge is putting in the work every single day.
From Formula 1 to Formula 4: Pierre Herrenschmidt on ALTAWKILAT Motorsport’s Mission to Build Saudi Motorsport
Five years into Saudi Arabia’s motorsport boom, ALTAWKILAT Motorsport’s Pierre Herrenschmidt talks to Hairpin Media about the Aramco F4 Saudi Arabian Championship, grassroots STEM and driver development, mixed-gender grids, and the untapped potential of regional racing across the Middle East.
“We are in this unique position where we’re both the team and the promoter. So, in another championship where you would sign up with a team, they would be responsible for developing your talents, and you may be working with three or four other drivers. In our championship, everyone is in one so-called organization.”
You can read the full interview at Hairpin Media here.
10 Career-Defining Lessons from the Motorsport Prospects Podcast
To celebrate the milestone 10th episode of the Motorsport Prospects Podcast, I’ve distilled 10 of the most valuable career lessons shared by guests on the show. Whether you’re already racing or working toward a future in motorsport, these actionable insights can help guide your development both on and off the track.
Read the full article with links to each podcast episode here. Don’t forget to sign up to the podcast here!
Williams Driver Luke Browning Explains Why F1 Struggles are ‘Valuable’ to His Career Growth
Williams might be in the midst of an early Formula 1 season struggle, but it possesses a benefit of a driver laser-focused and determined in its ranks, in the shape of Luke Browning.
“I think sometimes struggle is the best place to learn,” he told Motorsport Week in an exclusive interview. “And for me, the understanding why maybe it’s not quite gone perfectly, and how to improve, and then understanding that in the simulator, seeing the development path, and then going through this journey is just so valuable for me. And I feel quite lucky to be able to do the simulator work alongside Super Formula this year. Super Formula is keeping me super race fit.”
Read the full article on Motorsport Week here.
How Crucial is the Support Top F2 Teams Offer?
Being with the right team has always been vital in Formula 2, and that’s no different in the 2026 season. Ahead of the fifth round of the season in Barcelona, Feeder Series spoke to Invicta Racing’s Rafael Câmara and Rodin Motorsport’s Martinius Stenshorne about the support they receive from their teams.
Read the full article at Feeder Series here.
Junes 2026 SRO GT Academy Newsletter Updates
Some of the most exciting young talents in global sportscar racing have been on track in recent weeks as they look to take the next step in their careers with help from the SRO GT Academy.
Open to FIA Silver-graded drivers under the age of 30, the Academy consists of three distinct elements, each awarding a specific prize for 2027. Points are scored based on criteria such as speed, race craft and consistency, as well as behaviour on and off the track.
With every eligible series now underway, 44 aspiring professionals have been in action on four continents. Their objective is to follow in the footsteps of Gaspard Simon, who won the inaugural SRO GT Academy in 2025 and now competes full-time in GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS.
I highly recommend you subscribe to the SRO GT Academy Newsletter. This is what was covered In the June 2026 edition:
- Leading candidates emerge for 2027 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa opportunity
- Härtling throws down the gauntlet with stellar GT2 Europe performance
- Papin edges ahead in FFSA GT after Jousset suffers misfortune at Dijon
- Gaspard Simon gearing up for CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa debut
- Q&A with Niccolò Pirri
You can subscribe here.
Driver Development Program News & Resources
2026 Racing Women Summer Boot Camp – July
This summer, Racing Women will head to one of the most iconic locations in British motorsport: M-Sport’s HQ in Cumbria, on the edge of the English Lake District.
Home to championship-winning rally programs and some of the world’s most respected engineers and drivers, M-Sport provides a unique setting for three days dedicated entirely to driver development.
WHAT MAKES M-SPORT SPECIAL?
- Professional motorsport facilities and infrastructure
- Access to M-Sport’s renowned test and development environment
- Training surrounded by motorsport history and innovation
- A chance to experience life inside one of Britain’s leading competition organizations
THE PERFECT SETTING TO FOCUS
Located in the stunning Lake District, the Boot Camps combine intensive learning with an environment that allows drivers to fully immerse themselves in motorsport.
From on-track coaching and simulator sessions to fitness, racecraft and sponsorship workshops, every aspect of the program is designed to accelerate your development. The confirmed dates are 20–22 July.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
• Daily on-track coaching
• Racecraft development
• Simulator training
• Fitness preparation
• Sponsorship & PR workshops
• Driver development support
Whether you’re preparing for your next season or looking to take the first step in your racing journey, there are few places better to spend three days focused entirely on becoming a better driver.
Places are limited and bookings are now officially open.
Join their recent Global Competition Finals winners and immerse yourself in three days of intensive driver development at one of the most iconic locations in British motorsport.
Full details can be found here.
On the Podcast This Week
The Importance of Mental Performance Coaching Featuring Caroli Remmlinger
This week’s edition of the Motorsport Prospects Podcast features Mental Coaching professional Caroli Remmlinger. We talk about:
- Why mental performance coaching is so important for a race driver.
- The difference between mental performance and mental fitness.
- How all our limitations come from our mental state.
- All this and much more!
The episode drops on Wednesday, June 17th and you can subscribe, download and listen to it here.
Last Week on The Business of Being a Race Driver
Networking and Business Advice for the Race Driver
Networking and business advice is some of what is covered in last week’s Business of Being a Race Driver. You will also read what Lewis Hamilton thinks about the costs of karting and more!
From the Sim Racing Roundup
NASCAR Supports Sim Racing as a Path to Motorsport
NASCAR has signaled their support for using sim racing as a legitimate driver development path and I have the details in last week’s Sim Racing Roundup. You will also learn how Red Bull uses sim racing for on-track success, how a Williams driver uses the sim and more!
Last Week on the Podcast
Why You Need to Build a Community Featuring Will Marotti
Last week on the Motorsport Prospects Podcast I spoke with Will Marotti. Will is the founder of Speedway Venture Studio, founder and owner of Marotti Autosport and the host of The Pits Are Open.
Will explains the importance of thinking of your career as a business and why you need to lessen your reliance on sponsorship by focusing on and monetizing a community interested in your racing journey.
Listen to the full episode here!
Driver Journeys
Naomi Schiff: From Racing Driver to Formula 1 Broadcaster
For many Formula 1 fans, Naomi Schiff has become a familiar voice during race weekend coverage. Since becoming a full-time commentator and analyst for Sky Sports F1 in 2023, Schiff has grown into one of the most recognizable figures in the sport’s broadcast landscape, known for her sharp analysis and natural on-screen presence.
Before moving into broadcasting, Schiff built an impressive racing career of her own. Born in Belgium and raised in South Africa, she began karting at 11 and quickly progressed through the junior ranks. By 2010, she had moved into single-seater racing in the Formula Volkswagen Championship, followed by the Bridgestone Special Open Trophy in 2011 and the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 series in 2013.
Read about her journey at Mlle’s Substack here.
Eric Powell ‘Worked Whole Life’ to Make Le Mans Debut
Former TC America champion Eric Powell discusses how he has worked his whole life to make his Le Mans debut in Ford Mustang GT3 EVO.
“It’s crazy to be here. I was just telling my teammates, it doesn’t feel real. It’s a dream come true. Obviously this is what I’ve worked for my whole life. It’s been a learning experience so far. There’s been a lot of challenges that I wasn’t anticipating, not just with the performance side, but it’s a completely different racing culture. There’s so many things that are different.”
Read the full feature at Sportscar365 here.
From Classroom to Racetrack: How Charlie Baur is Building a Motorsports Career in a Business Discipline
Charlie Baur can trace his racing story back to a Christmas morning in Michigan — the kind that starts with snow on the ground and ends with a throttle in a kid’s hands.
“I remember being 3 years old and then for Christmas that year, my parents had gotten me a 120 cc snowmobile,” Baur said. Long before sprint cars, he was a Michigan kid on snowmobiles, dirt bikes, four-wheelers and jet skis — and a regular at car shows and races with his family.”
Read more about Eric’s journey at the Northwood University website.
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects and the host of the Motorsport Prospects Podcast. As a lawyer, he applies his legal background and research skills to assist race drivers by showcasing the resources they need to make their motorsport careers happen.
